And 6 more frequently asked questions about fipronil answered
In July 2017, fipronil was found in eggs, a substance that can be harmful to humans. How bad is it if you’ve already eaten eggs that contain fipronil? And what should you do if there is no code on your eggs? Frequently asked questions about fipronil answered.
1. What happens if you eat contaminated eggs?
If you’ve eaten a few eggs with fipronil, don’t worry. The eggs that the NVWA has examined do not contain a dose that is so high that it has direct consequences for your health. If you take a lot of fipronil for a long time, it can be harmful to your kidneys, liver or thyroid in the long term. You probably have to eat a lot of eggs with fipronil. How much is unknown.
The RIVM reports that from the few cases of poisoning in humans it is known that ingesting too much fipronil can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and epileptic seizures. This concerns, for example, people who have deliberately taken an overdose of fipronil. In general, these complaints disappear again. The substance is not carcinogenic.
2. What about products that contain eggs?
Eggs are also used in other products, such as mayonnaise, ready-to-eat salads, pastries and so on. So fipronil has also ended up in such products.
The NVWA took samples and indeed found fipronil in various products, but very low concentrations. If you just eat normal portions of egg cake, mayonnaise or egg salad, you run no health risk.
3. Is it safe to eat chicken?
Yes, laying hens are eaten, but almost never as chicken fillet or chicken leg. Due to the processing in the food industry, the amount of fipronil that is in it when consumed is probably small.
4. How do you check your eggs?
There is a code stamped on eggs. This egg code is therefore on the eggs themselves, not on the box. On the NVWA website you can find out which eggs to throw away. The NVWA is still testing eggs, so they may add to this list in the near future.
An example of the egg code is 2-NL-43113 01. It concerns the middle number series of 5 digits, from which you can read which company the egg comes from. That is why the NVWA indicates the rest of the numbers with an X. Any number can be placed in the place of the X’s.
5. What should you do if there is no egg code on your eggs?
The egg code is required by law and must be legible on every egg. The sector is responsible for this. The NVWA cannot make any statements about eggs without a code or with an illegible code. As a precaution, you can throw away eggs without a code.
6. What About Organic Eggs?
All eggs from laying hen companies (including organic, free-range or free-range eggs) where the product has been used may contain fipronil. So also check the code on organic eggs.
7. Do I have to pay attention in the supermarket?
The eggs that may have been contaminated with fipronil have been removed from stores.
